# Floating point is like that... (was Re: Floating point error)

Jefferson M. Dubrule (Jefferson.M.Dubrule@dartmouth.edu)
Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:47:59 PST

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    --- Tom Ritchford wrote:
        If programmers are assuming that they are going to get
    "exact" numbers with their floating point calculations,
    I fear that they will be sadly disappointed.
    --- end of quoted material ---
    Agreed.  The entire point of floating point numbers is increased range at the
    expense of precision.  Every 11th grader should be able to tell you that '1.6'
    implies any number from '1.55' to '1.65', including '1.600000000001'
    If you want precision, use integers instead.

    -manta